BY MENGESHA AMARE
Following the reform inundated in Ethiopia since two years ago, Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have been disbelievingly judged each other, and were serious foes for long, have come to the middle ground and well normalize situations. This development is going to benefit their respective people, who were one and the same folks once. Now hopes are rising to remerge.
The current leaders of these sisterly nations are keen to foster the people-to-people relations in various ways. One of the fundamental means to solidify ties and anew the relationship is the presence of land transport apart from flights keeping convenient times.
The commencement of the construction of Melodoni junction-Manda-Bure road project connecting Ethiopia with Eritrea’s Assab port is a case in point in this regard.
Launched by Transport Minister, Dagmawit Moges along with Afar regional state Chief, Awol Arba and other government officials, the construction of the project that links Ethiopia with Eritrea is believed to be the viable avenue to bring a real difference in the socio-economic progress of the two countries.
Dagmawit said the 71.65km road will facilitate Ethiopia’s import-export trade and foster other commercial bargaining. The road will be built by a Chinese firm Shandong Liquino Group, at a cost of more than two billion birr earmarked by the Government of Ethiopia.
Smek International will be a consulting company, while value Engineering is a sub-contractor of the project.
The asphalt road will have 19 and 10 meters width in urban and rural areas respectively. Similarly, the 78 km Dicheoto-Galafi junction–Elidar–Belho cement concrete road was inaugurated and opened for traffic.
The road will enable Ethiopia to use the new Tadjoura Port, besides easing traffic congestion at the existing Port of Djibouti, it was noted.
As learnt from Dagmawit, the road project will be built with the aim of stretching key infrastructures that will help facilitate Ethiopia’s import-export trade. Besides, the construction is expected to bring Ethiopia alternative routes to foreign markets, as it has almost been entirely dependent on Djibouti ports since the Ethio-Eritrean war broke out in 1998.
Two years ago, the Eritrean government reported that it had completed a 71 km asphalt road connecting the Ethiopian border in Bure to the port of Assab.
The road will help Ethiopia use the new Tadjoura Port, besides easing traffic jamming at the existing Port of Djibouti, said Dagmawit.
An Ethiopian ship docked in an Eritrean port for the first time in two decades and Eritrea announced plans to upgrade a road to its neighbor. It could be taken as an additional sign of strengthening ties between the two sisterly countries.
The announcements came as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed met Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in their second face-to-face encounter since a July peace deal ended two decades of antagonism.
Dr. Abiy of Ethiopia and Isaias of Eritrea traveled the entire 70-km road that links Assab’s port along the Red Sea to the town of Bure just across the border in Ethiopia, which had not been used since a two-year war broke out between the neighbors almost two decades ago.
According to Dagmawit, the country of over 100 million has been almost entirely dependent on its tiny neighbor Djibouti for port services. On the other hand, it has been trying to expand its alternatives in collaboration with its neighboring states and the new road project is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating Ethiopia’s export trade as it connects the country with Asseb Port.
The road will also help resume people to people interactions of the two countries that had been disrupted for years, she added.
Just over two years ago, Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement to end two decades of confrontation. The accord, which resolved a seemingly obstinate border dispute after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, was hailed with tremendous optimism in both countries and by international observers.
Not only has the peace deal impact on the states’ bilateral relations but it has also contributed a lot to social, economic and political development and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Interestingly, winding-up the “no war, no peace” period between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains a momentous breakthrough. It is well recognized that the two countries had fought for over 20 years.
To date, the peace ensured is of paramount importance in reinvigorating the relationships and rejuvenating the socio-economic amicability of the two affectionate fellow citizens.
The Ethiopia-Eritrea thaw has resulted in overall progress in regional relations. The renewed association needs to be well acknowledged as it is imperative to help both people come up with the desired change in all aspects. Hence, the road construction has added value to the all-embracing social, economic and political, security appraisals.
According to Dagmawit, it is well recognized that peace agreements are more successful and most likely to stick when they are inclusive.
Yes, Eritrea and Ethiopia have been willing to work together toward the resolution of long-standing regional tensions, reportedly agreeing that a more stable Horn of Africa would bolster investor confidence and benefit the region.
Eritrea has renewed ties with Djibouti after more than a decade-long border dispute, and with the assistance of Ethiopia, is in talks to resolve additional matters.
Eritrea’s willingness to engage constructively and actively is a test of the Ethiopia-Eritrea relationship.
The historical as well as blood tie between Ethiopia and Eritrea will further bolster and bear fruits with a view to benefit the respective fellow citizens of the two sisterly countries.
As Ethiopia has been and remains a champion of IGAD, a leader within the African Union, and active participant in global bodies like the United Nations. It’s hard to imagine further consolidation and regional stabilization without Ethiopia and Eritrea embracing a more multilateral approach within these bodies.
The growth and development of the two countries are of paramount importance in reinvigorating regional cooperation and peace and tranquility apart from enhancement in terms of social, economic and political spheres.
The two countries have since two-plus years back started discussing a range of socio-economic and other related issues to come up with sustainable development and regional security thereby making real difference in all aspects.
The role the road construction in boosting the development and prosperity of the two countries is beyond words. It is also significantly useful in consolidating countries’ efforts to preserve their independence in a fast-evolving geopolitical and socio-cultural environment.
The Ethiopian Herald January 27/2021
